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96% of NATURAL origin ingredients English Tea Shop – ethical, organic brand pays its farmers four times more – and tastes great! E nglish Tea Shop is indeed based in the UK, and therefore not just a quaint name, but it has its roots and origins in Sri Lanka where much of its organic produce is sourced. The company makes the humble claim: “We believe that the concept of Prajãva – the Sri Lankan word for community – should act as a guiding star for all businesses.” Being highly ethical as a core business principle means English Tea Shop has ended the disconnect that it says other merchants have through the auction systemwhich it says produces the vast disparity between the price the consumer pays, and the often-small sums paid to farmers. “We estimate that our organic suppliers are paid up to four times more than others,” says Nicholas Alexander, Senior Executive Tea and Botanical. 3,012 small-scale farmers work with English Tea Shop directly, 46% of its employees are women, 500 farmers have been trained in the sustainable organic farming English Tea Shop must have assured from its suppliers, and the business is 30% employee-owned. “We’re innovating tea to a new level,” says Mayuri Gallage, Assistant Manager Communications. Furthermore, the tea bags and packaging are 99% compostable, with the outer packaging made from recycled card with beautiful artwork created by Margo Carpentier. English Tea Shop products are sold in an astonishing 150 countries domestically and at airports in the UK, Iceland, the Netherlands, Canada, Maldives and here in Singapore – but clearly this is an ethical brand which could be easily and successfully made available in a great many more airports. After all, other than water, tea is the most-consumed beverage in the world. Basement 2/2-J23